Game apparatus.



R. E. SMITHER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. me.

LQ@6 %39 Patented Dec. 3,1918.

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R. E. SMITHER.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIQATION men APR-19.1918.

1 86y39w Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES ATTORNEY menses.

pnrrnn era RICHARD n. SMITHER-j, or PHILADELPHIA, rnnivsrnvnnta;

same lirrazea'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1918. Serial No. 229,590.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD E. SMITIIER, citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention is a game apparatus and has for its principal object the production of an outdoor game which is not only en tertaining, as well as beneficial to physical conditions, but which may also beplayed by any number of participants and upon fields which, due to irregular surfaces or like conditions, would prevent the playing of a great many ordinary games.

Another object of this invention is the production of a game apparatus whereina stand is provided upon which the whirl is placed, thus permitting the batto be gripped and permit the participant to strike the whirl and drive the same in the direction of a goal.

Another object of this invention is the production of a game apparatus wherein a stand is so arranged as to permit either right handed or left handed battersto participate with equal ease.

A still further object of this invention is the production of a game apparatus whereinthe stand is arranged to permit thesame to be shifted to allow the batter to more easily direct the whirl toward a desiredgoal.

Another object of this invention is the production of a game apparatuswherein the pivoted arms for releasably holding the whirl are held against rotation in one direction by reinforcing braces, although these arms are free to swing in the opposite direction in the event they areaccidentallystruck. thus preventing injury to these arms.

Another object of this invention is the production of a game apparatus comprising an elongated body which is reduced intermediate its ends to permit a resilient ball to be carried thereon, although the ends of the body are somewhat frusto-conicalin shape, thus permitting the whirls to be easily carried upon the armsof the'stand.

. Broadly stated, this invention includes the provision of a stand which comprises a base section having a post mounted thereon, dis

agonally extending" base boards fixed upon saidpost, outwardly extending parallel bars carrled by said base boards, arms pivotally mountednpon the ends of said bars, braces hold ng said arms aoainstrotation in one direction, and a whirl having aresilient portion intermediate its end restingupon said-1 arms, thus permitting a batfto be gripped and strike the resilient body of thewhirhtodrive'the same toward a desired goal.

With these and other objects in view,this

invention consists of certain novel combina tions, constructions and arrangement of parts as Will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

One practical form of the present invenftion will be hereinafter described and is il which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the stand,

portions of the stand being brolrenawayand shown in section. e

Fig. 2 1s a sideelevation of the stand, portions of the base and the post being broken away.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the whirl, a I

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan View ofthe; playing field, illustrating the positionofthe stand and the goals, and

Fig. 6 isa detail plan vie of a po rtionof the stand illustrating themanner in which an arm is held from rotation in one direction.

In the preferred embodiment of thisinvention, about tobe described, lOYindicates the base of the stand, as shown in; Figs. 1" and 2. This base 10 is provided with a sharpened; lower end 11, thus permitting the I driving of the base into the ground, until the upper end of the base extends adjacent the surface,as illustrated in Fig. 1.

This base isprovidedwith a socket 12 6X5 tending into its upper end as shown in Fig: 1 and illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 2.-

The post 13 has a pin 14 projectingfroin its lower end. and this pin. 14- extends into thesocket 12 of the base 10, thuscausing the post-to be positively supportedlupon the" l as lustrated in the accompanyingdrawingsgfin be turned when desired.

stand, although, it is obvious the post may This post is considerably longer than the base and for this reason extends for a considerable distance above the surface of the ground in order to make the portions of the stand upon which the whirl is supported to be in convenient position for access by a participant in the game.

A base board is positioned upon each side of the post 13 and it will be noted upon referring to Fig. 1, that these base boards 15 are in parallel alinement. Accordingly, bolts 16 are passed through the boards and also through the posts 13 to receive the nuts 17, thus firmly holding the boards upon the post 13. Particular attention is invited to the fact that these base boards extend diagonally across the post 13 in planes extending substantially 60 for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. The bars 18 are firmly held in engagement with the base boards 15 in any suitable manner. These bars are carried in pairs upon each base board and are spaced from each other in parallel planes as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be seen that these bars 18 extend for considerable distance beyond the outer surface of these base boards, thus permitting free access to the ends of the bars without interference from the post or the base boards.

The supporting arms 20 comprise coniparatively fiat elongated strips which bear upon the outer ends of the supporting bars 18. Retaining elements 21 are formed on the arms 20 and are carried upon the outer ends of the pins 19 extending from the outer ends of the bars 18, thus holding the arms against accidental displacement, although the arms are permitted to rotate for purposes to be set forth. The clips 22 are fixed will swing to prevent injury thereto.

upon the outer ends of the arms 20 and these clips are curved in cross section to present supporting trough like structures upon which the whirls are releasably supported.

To hold the arms against rotation in one direction, diagonal strips 23 are fixedly secured as indicated at 24 upon the inner surfaces of the supporting bars 18 adjacent the outer ends of these bars. The brace strips 23 extend diagonally from the bars and project in the path of movement of the arms and thus it will be seen that the arms will rest upon the projecting ends of these brace strips 23, as illustrated clearly in Figs. 1,

2 and 6. Accordingly, the arms may be held against rotation in one direction by these strips, although if the arms are accidentally struck by the participant batting, the arnl s t will also be noted that the arms carried by the upper supporting bars 18 extend downwardly while the arms carried by the lower supporting bars 18 extend upwardly.

Owing to the diagonal arrangement of the base boards it is obvious the arms will extend in planes extending diagonally across the post, as will be seen by referring particularly to Fig. 2.

The whirl used in connection with this invention consists of an elongated structure, such for instance as a stick which is reduced at 25 intermediate its ends. The ball 26 which is formed of rubber or other similar material is positioned. upon the reduced portion 2-5 of the whirl. The end portions are substantially frusto-eonical as shown at 27, and these ends are slightly larger than the reduced portion 25, thus holding the ball 26 against longitudinal displacement. The extreme end portions 28 of the whirl are substantially cylindrical and are reduced, thus causing the whirl to be easily carried upon the clips 22, as illustrated in F 1. As the clips are curved in cross section but have a broad open front portion, it is obvious the whirl may be easily struck and knocked from engagement with these clips without injuring the stand. Furthermore, since the extreme ends are cylindrical, it is obvious the whirl will be supported very easily by the clips and owing to the extension of the boards and the diagonal extension of the arm, the whirl will be held in the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The bat 29 may be of any suitable construction and is illustrated clearly in Fig. 4:. This bat 29 is provided at its outer end with a metallic sleeve for increasing the weight of the bat, at this end.

In connection with the playing field, attention is directed to Fig. 5 wherein the field is illustrated in diagram, A stand is placed as indicated in this figure and then goals 81 may be formed at different intervals from this stand and the goals will have a different value, as indicated in Fig. 5. These goals may be formed in the ground by digging a pit of any suitable size, or may be several boards secured together, at their ends, to form a pen, or any other suitable structure.

In playing the game, as many persons as desire may enter the same as it is intended to have each participant provided with a number of whirls of uniform colors, that is the whirls of each participant will be different from the color of the whirls of the other participant or participants. In accordance with the direction of the goal, the participant is playing for, the stand is turned by rotating the post upon the base of the stand. Then the participant may place his whirl upon either side of the stand, in accordance with the desires of the participant, whether he is a left or right handed batter. The participant then grips the bat and secondly swings the same forwardly and slightly upwardly into engagement with neeaaani the resilient: ball: 26, thus causing the. bat. to drive the whirl towards a desired: goal.

As the bat is weighted and since the whirl is comparativelylight, it is Obvious the Whirl will be easily driven, thus preventing undue; exertion or straining of; the bodyhof whirls likewise untilall the whirls have been driven. After this the participantthenf adds upthe points he has scored, according to the whirls remaining in the pits or pens constituting the various goals, andthe participant havingthehighest number ofipoints Wins the game. If: desired whirlsfwhich land in the pits or pens and then bounce out-mayalso be counted. a

As the arms are held in one direction, it is obvious they will hold the whirls in set positions, although if either of the arms is accidentally struck, itwill swing forwardly and thus prevent injury to the arm.

Fromthe foregoing it will be "seen that an out-of-doors game apparatus has been constructed which is so formed as to permit a person to play individually or allow any number of participants to play, thus prod'ucing a pleasing and entertaining game.

of the bat, which is somewhat similar to the swinging of a base-ball bat, an ax, golf stick, or the like, will physically benefit the participant. Also, since the goals are placed at spaced distances from the stand, the condition of the intervening ground does not interfere with the playing of the game and in fact the game can be played on a comparatively small field if desired.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my inven-f tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A game apparatus comprising a 1novably supported post, a base board carried by I said post, supporting bars carried by said base board in spaced relation, and supporting means on the ends of said supporting bars, thus permitting a whirl to be carried upon said supporting means and to be driven therefrom.

2. A game apparatus comprising a post,

a base board carried upon said post, support ing bars carried by said base board, movable arms icarried upon said bars, means :for hold.-

ing said arms against movement iniione dimotion, and awhirl positioned upon said i arms, thus permitting the whirl to be driven.

therefrom, and the pivotal supporting of. said: arms preventlng the arms; from; being injured. if accidentallyzstruck. I a i 31 A; game apparatus comprising a frame.

consistingxof a post, meansflforsupporting saidi post, a. diagonally extending base boards carried upon said post, supporting bars car riediby SEtlfill dlVlSlOllibOfl'Id adjacent the ends thereof,l. arms carried upon the ends of, an.

bars, said: arms extending toward: each; other, thus causing the arms ftobe in; a lane extending. diagonally across the: longitudi-s nal i axis of said post, andfa WlliIli removably. resting. upon. said. arms, thus permitting the;

Whirl to be struck and driven fromthe arms when-desiredt i against rotation Y 9 .41. game apparatus comprising a stand, said stand including a pair of parallel supporting bars, arms pivotally mounted upon as, p

the ends of said bars,said arms extending in a diagonal plane with'respect to the longitudinal axis of said stand, means for holding said arms against rotation in one direction, and a whirl carried upon said arms, thus permitting the whirl to be struck from said arms and the support of said arms permittingthe same to move if accidentally struck, thus preventing injury to said arms. It will also be noted that necessary swinging 5. A game apparatus comprising a stand,

said stand including parallel supporting bars, arms pivotallymounted upon the outer ends of said bars, curved clips carried by the ends of said arms, brace strips carried by said bars and engaging said arms for holding said arms against rotation in one direction, and a whirl resting upon said clips, thus permitting the whirl to be struck be tween the clips and the support of said arms also permitting the same to move, if accidentally it struck thus preventing injury to said arms.

6. A game apparatuscomprising a stand consisting of a base, a post turnably mounted upon said base, diagonally extending base boards upon opposite sides of said post, bars carried by said base boards, supporting arms carried by the ends of said bars, means for holding said arms against rotation in one direction, and a whirl. removably resting upon a plurality of said arms.

7. A game apparatus comprising a stand,

portions to be carried by said arms, thus permitting the whirl to be struck upon theresilient ball and driven from engagement with said arms.

8. A game apparatus comprising a frame including a diagonally extending base board, supporting bars carried by said base board adjacent the ends thereof, arms carried upon the ends of said bars, said arms extending toward each other, thus causing the arms to be in a plane diagonally crossing the vertical axis of said frame and a whirl removably resting upon said arms.

9. A game apparatus comprising a stand, said stand including a pair of parallel supporting bars, arms pivotally mounted upon the ends of said bars, said arms extending in a diagonal plane with respect to the ver tical axis of said stand, brace strips carried by said bars for holding said arms against rotation in one direction, and. a Whirl carried upon said arms.

10. A game apparatus comprising a stand consisting of a base, a post turnably mounted upon said base, base boards carried upon opposite sides of said post, bars carried by said base boards, supporting arms carried by the ends of said bars, means for holding said arms against rotation in one direction, and a Whirl removably resting upon a plurality of said arms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD E. SMITHER.

Witnesses:

MITCHELL J. LIoHow, CHARLES T. SEMrERs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

